Siam Sunrays, Thailand’s cocktail drink

If Cuba has Mojito, there is also the Singapore Sling and the Manhattan. Thailand hopes a newly created drink called ‘Siam Sunrays’ will enter the world’s cocktail lexicon and help draw tourists back to the country.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand revealed a new drink on Thursday, calling it ‘Thailand in a glass - the new punch in Thai tourism’.

The cocktail consists of a shot of vodka, coconut liqueur, a dash of chili pepper and sugar, lime juice, a few slivers of lemongrass and ginger but shaken not “stirred”, then strained into a glass ; with ice and soda water.

One of the latest strategy to revive Thailand’s key tourism industry, which was battered by political protests last year that culminated in a weeklong shutdown of Bangkok’s two main airports. The airport seizure stranded more than 300,000 travellers at the start of the peak holiday season, dealing a devastating blow to Thailand’s tourist-friendly image.

Siam Sunrays was the winner of a competition sponsored by the two agencies to create a national cocktail.

‘Thailand’s new signature drink is based on very Thai ingredients,’ the statement said, adding that the drink was now available at hotels and resorts across the country.